2 Corinthians 12:5

2 Corinthians 12:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
• New International Version (NIV)I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.
• English Standard Version (ESV)On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—
• New King James Version (NKJV)Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.

Context of 2 Corinthians 12:5

3I know that God took this man up to paradise. I do not know whether this man was still in his body or not. Only God knows. When this man was in heaven, he heard about secret things. Those are things that no words can describe. God will not let any person speak about those things. They are too special. I will say proud things about a man like that. But I will not be proud of anything good about myself. I will only be proud of things that show my weakness. 6If I did want to praise myself, that would not make me a fool. No, because I would be saying true things. But I will not say good things about myself. I want everyone to think properly about me. People should look at how I live. They should think about what I say. That is enough for them to decide about me. 7Yes, God did show me many things that were very special. But he did not want me to be proud because of that. So he gave me a pain in my body, like a sharp thorn. Satan uses that pain to give me much trouble. It is like Satan's angel that he sends to hurt me. That certainly stops me from being proud of myself!

2 Corinthians 12:5 word by word

ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι, ὑπὲρ δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ καυχήσομαι εἰ μὴ ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαιςRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Ofὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• such an oneτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
• will I gloryκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
• yetδέde · thenG1161
• myselfἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
• notοὐou · noG3756
• butεἰei · if: notG1487
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• mineἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• infirmitiesἀσθένειαastheneia · weakness: weakG769

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:5

• 2 Corinthians 12:2I know a certain man who belongs to Christ. 14 years ago, God quickly took this man up to the third heaven. Perhaps this man was still in his body. Perhaps he had gone away from his body. I do not know. Only God knows.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9But he said to me, ‘I will be kind to you and I will help you. That will be enough for you. When you are weak, I will show that I am completely powerful to help you.’ So I am happy to be proud about my weakness. Then I know that Christ's power will be with me.
• 2 Corinthians 11:30If I must be proud about myself, I will only be proud of things that show my weakness.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Of such a one will I glory - Through modesty he does not mention himself, though the account can be understood of no other person; for, did he mean any other, the whole account would be completely irrelevant.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Of such an one will I glory - Of such a man it would be right to boast. It would be admitted that it is right to exult in such a man, and to esteem him to be uniquely favored by God. I will boast of him as having received special honor from the Lord. Bloomfield, however, supposes that the words rendered “of such an one should be translated “of such a thing,” or of such a transaction; meaning” I can indeed justly boast of my being caught up to heaven as of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-7Paul could talk about his experience (12:2–4), but it did not give him confidence in his ministry. He never uses mystical experiences to prove his apostolic authority. His life and message must be the proof. Instead, he talks about his weaknesses (11:23–33).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. of myself--concerning myself. Self is put in the background, except in respect to his infirmities. His glorying in his other self, to which the revelations were vouchsafed, was not in order to give glory to his fleshly self, but to bring out in contrast the "infirmities" of the latter, that Christ might have all the glory.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:5

• Humility

In the dictionaries

• Backbiting
• Crafty
• Excuse
• Gain
• Grace
• Perfect
• Revelation
• Sufficient
• Thorn
• Unspeakable

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings